Benefits

These animals are feared for their vicious bite. However, it is worth noting that they rarely bite unless provoked. Also, large individuals are potentially ciguatoxic (a common toxin found in large fish between 35 degrees N and 34 degrees S latitude). Some of the eel's prey consume dinoflagellates that produce ciguatoxins. The toxin concentrates as it moves up the food chain. As a result, it is particularly dangerous to humans who eat large top predators from these ecosystems.